BASEBALL; Saberhagen Belatedly Admits to Bleach Squirt

This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996.
To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.

Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems.
Please send reports of such problems to archive_feedback@nytimes.com.

In a statement released by the Mets yesterday, Bret Saberhagen admitted responsibility for the July 27 bleach-spraying incident in the Shea Stadium clubhouse. The pitcher agreed to make amends for his actions and offered a formal apology both for his behavior that night and for his failure to acknowledge his role at an earlier date.

"I am sorry for the accident and the failure to come forward, both of which have obviously hurt the club's relations with the media," said Saberhagen, who over the last two weeks repeatedly denied his role in the incident -- in which reporters were sprayed -- to both the news media and to his organization.

The Mets have been reeling from bizarre off-the-field behavior by their players during a season that has also been a disaster on the field. Coleman in Court Today

Vince Coleman will be arraigned today in Los Angeles on a felony charge of igniting an explosive outside Dodger Stadium on July 25. And Saberhagen had previously admitted to tossing fireworks at a group of reporters in the locker room.

After extensive discussions among the Mets, the Players Association and Saberhagen on Monday over the bleach episode, Saberhagen agreed to donate one day's pay, or $15,384.62, to a charity designated by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He will also sit out an as-yet unspecified number of days when he returns from the disabled list next month.

Saberhagen, 29, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday morning and did not attend the game against the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium last night, a 3-2 Mets loss. He was expected to be out a minimum of four weeks.

In his statement, Saberhagen called the incident an "accident" and insisted that a Mets employee had been the target of a squirt gun filled with bleach. At least three reporters were hit by the bleach while attempting to interview Dwight Gooden near his locker.

"After the Mets-Marlins game of July 27, I tried, unsuccessfully, to return a practical joke played on me by a Mets employee," Saberhagen said. "My intention was simply to paint the employee's jeans with bleach." 'Never Intended' to Hurt Anyone

Instead, Saberhagen explained, he squeezed the trigger too hard while trying to get the bleach to the front of the squirt gun, and it accidentally sprayed into the air.

"I never intended, however, to harm anyone," the statement said, "and any perception that the bleach was sprayed intentionally at reporters, in an effort to hinder the performance of their functions or for any other reason, is simply mistaken."

An error has occurred. Please try again later.

You are already subscribed to this email.

The Mets' manager, Dallas Green, was clearly angered by Saberhagen's behavior, which he termed "childish," "unprofessional" and "mind-boggling." Green seemed particularly incensed that he had been lied to by one of his players.

"Obviously, the man has stepped forward and taken responsibility for a childish and dangerous act," Green said. "He's going to have to work hard to gain back the measure of trustfulness I expect from a top-flight veteran."

The New York chapter of the baseball writers issued a statement saying: "We appreciate the Mets' investigation into the bleach-spraying incident at Shea Stadium and the disciplinary action taken against Bret Saberhagen following that investigation. We are eager to put this and other incidents involving the Mets behind us. We look forward to working with management, the players and the Players Association to improve relations and assure a mutual respect in the workplace."

The bleach incident occurred the same night that Saberhagen told The New York Times that he had deliberately set off a pack of firecrackers near a group of reporters in the clubhouse in late June.

"If they can't take a joke, forget them," Saberhagen said at the time. He never extended an apology to reporters but he did apologize to the public, deeming his behavior "inappropriate." Tirade Last Friday

Despite his repeated denials, Saberhagen fueled suspicion that he was responsible for the bleach episode when he tore apart his locker in an angry clubhouse outburst last Friday, the same day that the Mets announced that their in-house investigation had been completed. The club didn't issue any names at the time but indicated that the player responsible had been identified.

Saberhagen did not confess until Monday, according to Gerry Hunsicker, the Mets' assistant vice president of baseball operations.

"This was initiated by him based on knowing our findings," Hunsicker said.

A version of this article appears in print on August 11, 1993, on Page B00007 of the National edition with the headline: BASEBALL; Saberhagen Belatedly Admits to Bleach Squirt. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe